Thread cutter for thread reeling or spooling apparatus



Aug. 30, 1966 w. SIGEL 3,269,669

THREAD CUTTER FOR THREAD REELING OR SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 /5. I g l L" g 32% I? 34 35 WILHELN SIGEL WWW/M w. SIGEL Aug. 30, 1966 THREAD CUTTER FOR THREAD REELING 0R SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVINI'OP W/LHELN SIGEL MMMW Aug. 30,1966 I W.$IGEL 3,269,669

THREAD CUTTER FOR THREAD REELING 0R SPOOLING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 an -J lillllln' INVNTOP WILHELN SIGEL WWW WWW/:14

Aug. 30, 1966 w. SIGEL 3,269,669

THREAD CUTTER FOR THREAD REELING OR SPOOLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 12, 1964 WILHELN SIGEL WWW W,

United States Patent 19 Claims. (c1. 242 19 The invention relates to the spooling or reeling of thread and, more particularly, to a thread cutter which severs the thread responsive to a predetermined increase in the tension of the thread.

In the spooling or reeling of threads, excessive thread tensions are the result of a variety of reasons. One cause of thread tension arises from the pulling of thread through a slot or gap of a thread cleaner wherein the edges of the slot or gap strip off foreign matter or thickenings adhering to the thread. If, for some reason, excessive thread tension occurs due to the foreign matter or thickenings being such that they cannot be stripped off readily, the thread is usually broken or torn by the increasing tension, so that the reeling station associated with the thread will be automatically disconnected and the operator can eliminate the cause of the increased thread tension such as, for example, a bad piece of thread.

With threads consisting of short fibers, such severing of the thread occurs without any difiiculty. However, with long fiber threads, and especially with threads of synthetic resin having a relatively high tensile strength, either the thread does not break or the breakage occurs only after the thread has been stretched to a very large extent.

If the thread does not break, then the thickened area is flattened or thinned in a thread cleaner and pulled through it. If this flattening or thinning remains in the thread, it causes faults in the processing of woven or knit fabric. Furthermore, the stretching of the thread results in a strong solidification or densifying of the thread as well as tightening 'of the reeled turns thereof. In subsequent dyeing of the reeled or spooled thread, both the highly stretched parts of the thread and the more tightly wound layers of the reeled thread on the spool absorb the dye to a much lesser extent than do the unstretched parts of the thread and the less tightly wound layers. Thus, the degree of dye penetration is not uniform. When fabrics and goods are knit or woven from this unevenly dyed thread, they contain non-uniformly or irregularly dyed areas, resulting in fabric material which is either unuseable or of inferior quality.

The present invention is directed to a means for avoiding these difficulties. More specifically, the invention is directed to a thread cutter which is situated along the length of the thread being reeled or spooled, and which is rendered effective responsive to a predetermined increase in thread tension. This tension may be adjusted for the particular type of thread and, when the increase in thread tension is exceeded, the thread cutter of the invention automatically cuts or severs the thread. The thread cutter may be actuated or triggered either mechanically or electrically.

In spooling or reeling apparatus where the thread passes through a thread cleaner before spooling, the thread cutter is arranged down stream, in the direction of thread travel, of the thread cleaner. Preferably, triggering of the thread cutter to the thread severing position is effected by a twoarm or angle triggering lever having one end loaded or biased by the thread tension while the other end of the lever latches a spring biased second lever from moving to .an operative position. The triggering lever, which senses the thread tension, releases the second lever when the thread tension increases a predetermined amount. Thereupon, the second lever, under its spring bias, and in the case of mechanical operation, actuates a movable knife blade of the thread cutter to coact with a fixed knife blade to sever the thread. Alternatively, if the thread cutter is electrically operated, the second lever closes an energizing circuit for electro-magnetic means for so actuating the movable knife blade of the thread cutter.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevation view, referred to FIG. 3, of thread cutting apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3, and illustrating the thread cutter in the cocked or inoperative position;

FIG. 6 is a view, corresponding to FIG. 5, illustrating the parts in the thread severing position;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3 and illustrating the triggering means for the thread cutter in the latching position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the triggering lever in the cutter releasing position;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line IXIX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 7, and turned relative to FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the movable knife of the thread cutter;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the stationary knife of the thread cutter;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view through an electrically operated thread cutter embodying the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV XIV of FIG. 13, and turned 90 relative to FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a thread cleaner 20, of a known type, is illustrated as including a stationary jaw 20' and a movable jaw 20 with the movable jaw being adjustable relative to the stationary jaw by means of an adjusting nut 20 so as to set the width of the thread cleaning slot 20 in accordance with the thickness of the thread 21 to be cleaned. Thread cleaner 20 is secured to a holder 22, constructed for securement to the frame of the spooling or reeling machine, by means of a bolt 20 passing through jaws 20' and 20 and adjusting nut 20 and provided with a nut 20 Through the medium of a screw 23 and a spacer sleeve 24 surrounding the screw, a base plate 25 of a thread cutter assembly 26 is also mounted on the support 22. Plate 25 carries a housing 27 whose planar configuration is best seen in FIGS. 5-8, and which forms a lateral enclosure for the thread cutter. Housing 27 is provided with notches 28 and 29 having a depth selected so that thread 21 runs through these notches and between the knife blades of the thread cutting device. The portions of housing 27 on opposite sides of notches 28 and 29 are closed by covers 30 and 31. Alternatively, covers 30 and 31 may be made integral with housing 27.

Base plate 25 carries two fixed thread guides 32 and 33 having front surfaces in guiding engagement with the thread 21 passing through the notches 28 and 29, as best seen in FIG. 4. Between the fixed thread guides 32 and 33, there is a movable thread guide 34 secured on one arm 35 of an angle or two-arm triggering lever 35 extending from housing 27 through slot 27, best seen in FIGS. 7, 8

Patented August 30, 1966 Q and 9. Thread 21 passes behind movable thread guide 34 so that a knee, bight or bend is formed in the thread between fixed thread guides 32 and 33. However, when the thread tension exceeds a certain adjustable predetermined limit, the crank or bend in thread 21 is straightened to pivot triggering lever 35 counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6.

Triggering lever 35 is pivotally mounted in housing 27 by means of a pivot pin 36 secured in the hub 35 of lever 35 and rotatably mounted in a bushing 36' secured in plate 25. The second arm 35 of lever 35 serves to lock a knife operating lever 37 in its inoperative cocked position, shown in FIG. 5, only as long as normal tension is exerted on thread 21. For this purpose, arm 35 of lever 35 has a forked free end in which is mounted a roller 38 which is rotatable on a pivot pin 39. In the latching or rest position of lever 35, roller 38 occupies a position shown in FIG. in which it is engagement with knife lever 37. However, when triggering lever 35 is pivoted counter-clockwise due to a preselected increase in the thread tension, roller 38 engages housing wall 27 to limit the movement of lever 35 in such counter-clockwise direction.

Knife lever 37 is pivotally mounted in housing 27 on a pivot pin 40 the lower end 40' of which is pivotal or rotatable in base plate 25 and the upper end 40 of which is rotatably engaged in cover 31. The forked end 42 of a movable knife 42 is pivoted to knife lever 37 by 'a pivot pin 41, this movable knife 42 being best illustrated in FIG. 11. A compression coil spring 43 has one end engaged in a spring seat 37 of the hub 37' of knife lever 37, while its other end embraces a pin 42 secured to movable knife 42, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Compression spring 43 presses the cutting edge 42 of movable knife 42 firmly against the front face of fixed knife 44, which latter is best illustrated in FIG. 12. Spring 43 biases movable knife blade 42 clockwise about pivot 41 and thereby produces a reaction which tends to bias knife lever 37 counter-clockwise about its pivot pin 40. As long as triggering lever 35 is in its latching position, arm 35 thereof retains knife lever 37 in the position shown in FIG. 5. However, as soon as an increase in the thread tension straightens the thread 21, and thus pivots lever 35 into the triggering position of FIG. 6, arm 35 of lever 35 releases knife lever 37 so that the latter is abruptly pivoted counter-clockwise under the action of spring 43. During this pivoting, the cutting edge 42 of movable knife 42 slides along the front surface of fixed knife 44 and severs the thread 21.

Fixed knife 44 is secured to the wall of housing 27 by means of a screw 45 which passes through a filler piece 46, with the latter serving as a support for the fixed knife. The fixed knife has a cutting edge 44' and a shoulder 44 protruding beyond the cutting edge in a longitudinal direction. The cutting edge 42 of movable knife 42 engages this shoulder as long as lever 37 is in its latching position as shown in FIG. 5.

For the purpose of adjusting the thread tension at which the triggering lever 35 is pivoted from its latching position into the release position, a pawl 47, best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, is provided under knife lever 37 and is pivotal about the pivot pin 40 of the knife lever. Pawl 47 is provided with a notch or latch cutout 47' in which roller 38 of triggering lever 35 engages as long as the triggering lever is in its latching position of FIG. 7. An adjusting screw 48 is threaded through the wall of hous ing 27 and is provided with a blind bore 48 extending from its inner end. Bore 48' seats one end of a pressure spring 49 whose opposite end engages the back of pawl 47 and is retained in position by a pin 47 Spring 49, which biases pawl 47 counterclockwise, releasably retains roller 38 of triggering lever 35 in recess 47' of pawl 47 so that lever 35 can be pivoted from its latching position of FIG. '7 into its operative position of FIG. 8 only by overcoming the force of spring 49. The

force with which spring 49 thus retains the parts in the position can be adjusted by means of screw 48. After triggering of lever 35, pivotal movement of pawl 47 is limited by a pin 50 engaging in an aperture 47 of pawl 47 and secured in the bottom wall or base 25 of the housing. This pin limits the movement of the pawl to such a position that roller 38 can easily reseat into recess 47' of pawl 47 if lever 35 is manually reset to its latching position of FIG. 7.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that lever 35 is maintained in its latching position by the spring biased pawl 47. Upon an increase in the spring tension of a predetermined amount, lever 35 is swung counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 and to the position of FIG. 6. Such swinging of lever 35 causes its axially elongated roller 38 to disengage the end of knife lever 37 so that the latter is biased counter-clockwise causing movable knife 42 to slide along fixed knife blade 44 and sever the thread 21 passing through the notches 28 and 29.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-12, the actuation of the thread cutter is effected mechanically. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a similar arrangement, but which differs from that described in that the actuation of the cutting operation is effected electromagnetically.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, housing 227 is secured on base plate 225 of thread cutter 226 and, similarly to the housing 27, has its upper end closed by cover parts such as 231. Housing 227 is formed with a slot 227 for passage of protruding arms 235' of triggering lever 235, as well as with two notches or recesses 228 and 229 for thread 221. The arrangement of the fixed thread guides 232 and 233, as well as that of the movable thread guide 234 on triggering lever arm 235' is the same as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12.

The second arms 235 of the lever 235, which is pivoted within the housing 227 on a pivot pin 236, is formed, at its free end, with a hook or latch-shaped portion 235. In the at rest or latching position of triggering lever 235, nose 235 latches the free end of a contact lever 251, as best seen in FIG. 13. Lever 251 is pivotal about a pin 252 secured in base plate 225 and is biased by a compression spring 253 which tends to pivot lever 251 clockwise. Spring 253 has one end seated in a recess 254 and the other end seats over a pin 255 on lever 251. On its right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 13, lever 251 carries a knife-type of contact blade 256 associated with two resilient contact bridge pieces 257 and 258 mounted, in insulated relation, on base plate 225.

As long as arm 235 of triggering lever 235 is in its resting position, latch 235 retains lever 251 in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 13, and in which contact 256 is disengaged from contact pieces 257 and 258.

However, as soon as triggering lever 235 is pivoted due to an increase of thread tension of the thread 221, nose 235 releases contact lever 251. Under the influence of pressure spring 253, lever 251 is snapped into the dottedline position of FIG. 13 and contact blade 256 engages between contact pieces 257 and 258. This closes an elec tric circuit extending from one terminal of a suitable source of electric potential 259 over a lead 260 to contact bridge piece 257. From the second contact bridge piece 258, a lead 261 extends to one end of the winding 262 of an electro-magnet 263 and a lead 264 connects the other end of the winding to the opposite terminal of the potential source 259. Thus, when this circuit is closed, electro-magnet 263, which is mounted on the exterior of housing 227, is energized to attract armature 265. Armature 265 has an articulated connection with knife lever 237 through a rod 266, and a spring 267 normally biases armature 265 to the right as viewed in FIG. 13.

Knife lever 237, which is pivoted about a pin 240, carries a movable knife 242 which is designed in the same manner as shown in FIG. 11 and is connected with knife lever 237 by a hinge pin 241. A pressure spring 243, corresponding to pressure spring 43 of FIGS. 5 and 6, biases the cutting edge of knife 242 against the front face of fixed knife 244 Whose design and mounting corresponds to that of the knife 44 of FIG. 12.

When armature 265 is moved to the left under the influence of electro-magnet 264, rod 266 pivots knife lever 237 counter-clockwise. With this movement, the cutting edge of movable knife 242 slides along fixed knife 244 to sever thread 221. At the same time, a pin 268, which projects downwardly from movable knife 242, engages lever 251 to move it back to its latching position. Triggering lever 235, which has been relieved of the tension of the thread due to the cutting of the thread, and whose triggering movement has been limited by an adjustable abutment screw 269, snaps back into its latching position under the action of a spring (not shown). Thus, locking end 235 latches contact lever 251, which has now been moved back to its cocked position. As contact lever 251 is moved back to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, contact knife edge 256 is disengaged from contacts 257 and 258 to interrupt the energizing circuit for the electro-magnet. Thus, the electro-magnet is de-energized and spring 267 moves armature plate 265 to the right. This pulls knife lever 237 back into its rest position, by means of the rod 266. The rest position of lever 237 is limited by an adjustable screw abutment 270. The thread cutter is now ready for the re-introduction of a new thread 221.

If blade 242 has not cut thread 221, release lever arm 235-1 and the second arm 235-2, which can pivot within the housing, retain their position as represented by the dot-dash line. Thus lever 251, which is returned to its starting position by pin 268 on blade 242 during the cutting operation, is returned again, after completion of the cutting operation, to the dot-dash line position under the action of compression spring 253. This re-closes the energizing circuit for the electromagnet and a new cutting operation of blade 242 is initiated. The cutting operations are repeated until thread 221 is severed, and moving thread guide 234 has assumed the position represented in FIG. 13 in which contact lever 251 is latched in the solid line position.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

- 1. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter comprising, in combination, a feeler engaged with a thread being reeled and movable from a rest position in a direction substantially normal to the thread course responsive to a pre-settable tension in the thread, and movable back to the rest position; a stationary thread cutter knife blade having a recess through which the thread passes defined by a first cutting edge perpendicular to the direction of thread movement, said stationary blade having a guide surface extending beyond said first cutting edge and the thread; a relatively elongated movable thread cutter knife blade having a second cutting edge and continuously engaged with and movable along said guide surface across said recess towards said first cutting edge to sever the thread between said cutting edges; a movably mounted support lever; said movable knife blade being pivotally mounted adjacent its opposite end on said support lever; driving means operable to pivot said support lever in a direction to move said movable knife blade along said guide surface across said recess to sever a thread between said cutting edges; and an element connected to said feeler and operatively associated with said driving means to activate said driving means responsive to such movement of said feeler from the rest position.

2. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 1, including biasing means forming said driving means and comprising a spring operative on said knife blade support lever to pivot the same in a direction to move said movable knife blade to the thread severing position; said element comprising a pivotally mounted further lever having a free end comprising said feeler and engaged with the thread being reeled, said further lever normally latching said knife blade support lever against movement of said movable knife blade to the thread severing position; said further lever, responsive to a predetermined thread tension, being pivoted to release said knife blade support lever for movement of said movable cutting blade to the thread severing position.

3. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 2, said biasing spring being a compression spring interengaged between said movable knife blade, outwardly of the pivot point thereof, and a portion of said knife blade support lever offset from the axis thereof; said compression spring pressing the cutting edge of said movable knife blade into engagement with a cooper ating surface of said fixed knife blade and operating to bias said knife blade support lever in a direction to slide the cutting edge of said movable knife blade along the surface of said stationary knife blade to sever the thread.

4. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 2, said further lever comprising an angle lever having a first arm and a second arm extending from its pivot; said first arm constituting said feeler and having its free end engaged with the thread and in a bight in the path of travel of the thread; said second arm being engaged with said knife blade support lever; the first arm of said further lever, upon straightening of the bight in the thread due to a predetermined thread tension, being swung to disengage said second arm of said further lever from said knife blade support lever for spring biased movement of the movable knife blade to the thread severing position.

5. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 4, including a spring biased catch cooperable with the second arm of said further lever to releasably retain the same in latching engagement with the knife blade support lever.

6. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 5, in which said means biasing said catch comprises a biasing spring; and means operable to adjust the force of said spring to preselect the thread tension at which said further lever will be released by said catch to release said knife blade support lever for movement of said movable knife blade to the thread severing position.

7. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 5, in which said catch is pivotally mounted; and means limiting pivotal movement of said catch upon disengagement of the second arm of said further lever therefrom.

8. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 5, in which said knife blade support lever and said catch are pivoted on a common pivot and are arranged in superposed relation.

9. In thread reeling apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, a pair of fixed thread guides arranged in longitudinally spaced position along the direction of travel of the thread; a movable thread guide carried by the free end of the first arm of said further lever and positioned between said fixed thread guides, said movable thread guide, in the latching position of said further lever, displacing the thread engaged thereby to form an offset bight in the thread along its path of movement, whereby the thread, upon an increase in tension, tends to straighten said bight and swing said further lever to the position releasing said knife blade support lever.

10. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter, as claimed in claim 1, including a housing formed with a pair of apertures through which the thread being reeled enters the housing and exits therefrom along a substantially rectilinear path; said stationary knife blade extending substantially transversely to the path of the thread through said housing and having a fixed cutting edge facing the thread; said knife blade support lever being pivotally mounted in said housing for swinging movement toward the thread; said movable knife blade being normally retracted from the thread; said driving means including a compression spring operatively interengaged between an eccentric portion of said knife blade support lever and said movable knife blade, and biasing said movable knife blade into engagement with said stationary knife blade, said compression spring further exerting a torque on said knife blade support lever to move the same in a direction to advance the cutting edge of said movable knife blade into cooperation with the cutting edge of said stationary knife blade to sever the thread; said element being operatively associated with said knife blade support lever and forming latching means for restraining the knife blade support lever from movement thereof toward the thread to effect cooperation of said stationary and movable knife blade cutting edges; said element, responsive to a predetermined thread tension, releasing said knife blade support lever for interaction of said stationary and movable knife blade cutting edges to sever the thread.

11. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 10, including a pair of stationary thread guides engageable with the thread leaving said housing and spaced longitudinally of the path of travel of the thread; said element including a two-armed lever having a first arm carrying said feeler for the thread between said stationary thread guides and normally displacing the thread to form a bight in the thread between said stationary thread guides; the second arm of said lever carry ing a roller and engaged with said knife blade support lever; said thread, upon a predetermined tension thereof, tending to straighten said bight to pivot said two-armed lever to disengage said roller from said knife blade support lever for interaction of said knife blade cutting edges to sever the thread.

12. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 11, in which said roller is axially elongated; a spring biased catch arranged on a common pivot with said knife blade support lever and superposed therewith, said catch being engageable with said roller; and means for adjusting the spring bias of said catch to preselect the release point of said roller responsive to an increase in thread tension.

13. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter comprising, in combination, a feeler engaged with the thread being reeled and movable from a rest position in a direc- 1 tion substantially normal to the thread course responsive to a pre-settable tension in the thread, and movable back to the rest position; a stationary thread cutter knife blade having a recess through which the thread passes defined by a first cutting edge perpendicular to the direction of thread movement, said stationary blade having a guide surface extending beyond said first cutting edge and the thread;

a relatively elongated movable thread cutter knife blade having a second cutting edge at one end opposed to said first cutting edge and continuously engaged with and movable along said guide surface across said recess towards said first cutting edge to sever the thread between said cutting edges; a movably mounted support lever; said movable knife blade being pivotally mounted, adjacent its opposite end, on said support lever; driving means operable to pivot said support lever in a direction to move said movable knife blade along said guide surface across said recess to sever a thread between said cutting edges; trigger means operable to activate said driving means; and an element connected to said feeler and operatively associated with said trigger means, and effective to operate said trigger means to activate said driving means responsive to such movement of said feeler from the rest position.

14. In thread reeling apparatus, a thread cutter as claimed in claim 13, in which said driving means comprises an electromagnet having an energizing circuit; said trigger means, when activated, closing said energizing circuit, and opening said energizing circuit as soon as said second cutting edge has attained the thread severing position; said trigger means re-closing said energizing circuit when said movable knife blade has returned to its starting position provided that the thread has not been severed during the preceding thread severing movement of said movable knife blade.

15. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 13 in which said driving means comprises electro-magnetic means; a normally open energizing circuit, including a source of potential, for said electromagnetic means; a switch controlling energization of said circuit; and a switch operator included in said trigger means and normally biased to a switch closing position; said element including a member engageable with said operator and normally latching the same against movement to the switch closing position.

16. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 15, including means operable upon movement of said cutter to the thread severing position to engage said switch operator and return back to the switch opening position.

17. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 15; said electro-magnetic means including a spring biased armature connected to said knife support lever.

18. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 17, including a pin on said movable knife blade engageable with said switch operator and effective upon movement of said movable knife blade to the thread severing position, to return said switch operator to its latched position.

19. In thread reeling apparatus, the combination claimed in claim 17, said feeler including a two-armed lever having a first arm and a second arm extending at an angle to each other from a common pivot; a pair of stationary thread guides engageable with the thread exiting from said housing and spaced apart longitudinally of the direction of travel of the thread; a movable thread guide on said first arm of said two-armed lever and engageable with the thread intermediate said fixed thread guides and displacing the thread to form a bight therein between said stationary thread guides; said second arm of said twoarmed lever having a hooked end engageable'over a free end of said switch operator, which latter is pivoted in said housing; the bight in the thread, responsive to a predetermined thread tension, tending to straighten to swing said two-armed lever to disengage said hook from the free end of said switch operator for biased movement thereof to the switch closing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,102 6/1920 Weber 2864 1,814,353 7/1931 Webber 2864 2,036,806 4/1936 Hill et al 2864 2,292,986 8/1942 Barnes 2864 3,096,945 7/1963 Wildi 242-19 3,113,368 12/1963 Hills 2864 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

MER N STEIN, aminer. 

1. IN THREAD REELING APPARATUS, A THREADED CUTTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FEELER ENGAGED WITH A THREADED BEING REELED AND MOVABLE FROM A REST POSITION IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE THREAD COURSE RESPONSIVE TO A PRE-SETTABLE TENSION IN THE THREAD, AND MOVABLE BACK TO THE REST POSITION; A STATIONARY THREAD CUTTER KNIFE BLADE HAVING A RECESS THROUGH WHICH THE THREAD PASSES DEFINED BY A FIRST CUTTING EDGE PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF THREAD MOVEMENT, SAID STATIONARY BLADE HAVING A GUIDE SURFACE EXTENDING BEYOND SAID FIRST CUTTING EDGE AND THE THREAD; A RELATIVELY ELONGATED MOVABLE THREAD CUTTER KNIFE BLADE HAVING A SECOND CUTTING EDGE AND CONTINUOUSLY ENGAGED WITH AND MOVABLE ALONG SAID GUIDE SURFACE ACROSS SAID RECESS TOWARDS SAID FIRST CUTTING EDGE TO SEVER THE THREAD BETWEEN SAID CUTTING EDGES; A MOVABLY MOUNTED SUPPORT LEVER; SAID MOVABLE KNIFE BLADE BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT ITS OPPOSITE END ON SAID SUPPORT LEVER; DRIVING MEANS OPERABLE TO PIVOT SAID SUPPORT LEVER IN A DIRECTION TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE KNIFE BLADE ALONG SAID GUIDE SURFACE ACROSS SAID RECESS TO SEVER A THREAD BETWEEN SAID CUTTING EDGES; AND AN ELEMENT CONNECTED TO SAID FEELER AND OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DRIVING MEANS TO ACTIVATE SAID DRIVING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SUCH MOVEMENT OF SAID FEELER FROM THE REST POSITION. 